Here’s a question for all of you history buffs out there: What do Thomas Kemp, the Wades Point Inn, and the War of 1812 have in common?

In August of 1813, the British Royal Navy came up the Chesapeake planning to take over the town of St. Michaels. They were met with much resistance in St. Michaels harbor, so they regrouped and took their troops down the Bay searching for a way to get their troops on land. Coming ashore at Wades Point, the British troops started their march into St. Michaels, only to be met by five hundred (unexpected) Maryland troops beginning what is now said to be the largest land battle in Maryland for the War of 1812. Where does Thomas Kemp fit into all of this, you ask? Well, Thomas Kemp was a shipbuilder in Fells Point and built some of the fastest ships on the Chesapeake Bay (and subsequently used in the War of 1812)—including the Chausser, which was known as “The Pride of Baltimore”, and after which the current Pride of Baltimore was modeled. Thomas Kemp also went on to buy Wades Point after the war and moved his family there away from the hustle and bustle of the city. He put his architectural skills to work building his new how which was inspired by the Brice house in Annapolis. Tucked alongside of the top of the chimney is a hidden room, the perfect lookout for spotting those pesky British ships!

On Saturday, July 27, Wades Point Inn will be hosting a discussion about the War of 1812, which will be led by a group of authors who joined forces to produce a book about the War and how it affected St. Michaels. Join us for a great discussion, beautiful views, and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres. The reception will begin at 5 p.m., and seats are going fast! Call the Inn today at 410.745.2500 to reserve your seat and to be a part of this historical celebration!

Getting into the spirit of all things nautical and Chesapeake Bay related, we’ve updated and added to our “fleet” of kayaks and have also added paddle boards for our guests. For those who like to keep your feet on dry land, don’t worry—we’ve also updated and added to our “fleet” of bicycles for your cruising pleasure!

As you know, Wades Point Inn Bed & Breakfast is just a few miles from downtown St. Michaels, close enough to town to offer the convenience of shopping, dining, antiquing, and festival-going, but far enough away to be peaceful and relaxing. Staying with us here at Wades Point Inn offers the best of both worlds!

Battle of St. Michaels Bicentennial

Event DescriptionBattle of St. Michaels BicentennialAug. 10,2013 -A parade kicks off the celebration at 10:AM With a full day of events to follow.Aug 11, 2013- Watermen’s Appreciation Day & Crab Feast
With special celebrity appearances from members of the Deadliest Catch & Swamp People TV Shows.

Although we’re not quite open for the season, we’re looking forward to seeing all of our friends after this long, not-so-cold winter, and thought you might want to start planning for an upcoming visit. That being said, we thought we’d provide a listing of some upcoming events that might interest you.

For starters, St. Michaels is planning a St. Patrick’s Day celebration, Eastern Shore style! Like most other towns, St. Michaels likes to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in our own way, and we have quite an agenda of festivities planned for the weekend.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, many make it a point to come out and celebrate St. Patty’s Day in St. Michaels, and we want you to join us! I mean, where else can you personally decorate a shopping cart and race it (with your intrepid best friend/spouse/etc. as your “passenger”!) through the center of town without being arrested? Our shopping cart races are a lot of fun, and we think you’d love it! But, if shopping cart races aren’t your style, St. Michael’s has events scheduled all weekend. There are lots of family-friendly events, and everything takes place in or near downtown St. Michaels, just a short jaunt from Wades Point Inn. Below is a brief schedule of events for the weekend:

Saturday, March 16th

12 – 2:00 p.m. Scavenger Hunt – the grand prize is a week-long stay in Key West!
12 – 3:00 p.m. Family fun and games at the St. Michaels Community Center
12 – 5:00 p.m. Catch the Leprechaun—if you can! He’s quick, but if you can catch this
1 – 3:00 p.m. Live music at Eastern Shore Brewing (Don’t forget your dancing shoes!)
3 – 3:30 p.m. Costume contest for the best Leprechaun or Irishman
5:45 p.m. Irish Wake Procession
6 p.m. Irish Wake Celebration and dinner buffet for $17 at Marcoritaville Restaurant.

And in addition to these fun events, raffle tickets will be sold all day at various locations throughout town—who knows? With the “Luck of the Irish”, you might just be the winner!

We’ll be providing more information about these (and other) events as the dates draw near, so check back often.

If you’re still not sure if you want a peaceful, relaxing retreat or a fun-filled weekend, why not have both? Since Wades Point Inn is just a short road trip from Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Annapolis, you can relax with us at Wade’s Point Inn before hitting the town to join in the fun—or not! And in the morning, enjoy the awesome views of the Chesapeake Bay while enjoying local favorites at our breakfast buffet. You CAN have the best of both worlds; join us…we’ll show you how it’s done!

Wade’s Point Inn is one of the most picturesque water front B&Bs in the Delmarva area. A short drive from Washington DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, Wade’s Point is located near Saint Michaels, Maryland and nestled along the banks of the Chesapeake Bay (at the mouth of the Eastern Bay, to be exact), Wades Point Inn offers unprecedented water views from each and every guest room. Choose the room that most fits your style—from the more modern rooms in the Kemp House to the charming, history filled rooms of the Main House—all of our rooms are listed on our website at www.wadespointinn.com, so you can choose the one in which you’ll be most comfortable. Whether you choose modern or a piece of history, we strive to offer the amenities you enjoy most in all of our guest rooms—private bathrooms with large claw-foot tubs or spacious showers, comfortable pillow top beds with luxurious linens, awesome water views, private porches, and wonderful mouth-watering breakfasts to start your day. Wades Point Inn is the place to be for a relaxing weekend away or a fun-filled excursion. Spring is in the air, and we’re working hard to get our waterfront inn ready for the season. We’ve been painting and updating and sprucing things up, and we can’t wait for you to visit!

Along with sprucing up our waterfront rooms, we’re also painting our kayaks and canoes and oiling the chains on our bicycles in anticipation of your visit. Boating and biking are only two of the activities we offer at the Inn; you can also kayak, hike, bird watch, swim, fish, stroll, or just relax in one of our comfy chairs with a good book and an awesome view of the Chesapeake Bays sunsets. If kayaking, hiking and biking aren’t your thing, you can shop-til-you-drop in nearby Saint Michaels. With an eclectic mix of stores—from antiques to contemporary—you’re sure to find that perfect gift. Known as a foodie destination the Bay Hundred area is host to world-class restaurants where the chefs are passionate about using locally grown foods to create their regional specialties.

Saint Michaels also offers a variety of events throughout the year, from our Wine Festival in the spring to Christmas in St. Michaels in December. We’ll be posting information about upcoming events and specials so check back often to make sure you don’t miss anything!

If you’d like to have your own special event, we can make that happen, too! From “Girl’s Weekends” to cooking classes to weddings, our staff will take care of all the details (or as many as you want us to)—all you have to do is ask!

If you’ve been here before, you’ve met Lucy, our resident beagle. This year Lucy has a new friend, Chester, a handsome dachshund, is as lovable and welcoming as Lucy, and can’t wait for you to rub his tummy! Because both of our resident pooches are small, we ask that you take your time coming down the drive to the Inn. This way you’ll be sure to enjoy the view AND keep a watchful eye out for those playful pups!

11th Annual MIDNIGHT MADNESS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2012! Midnight Madness is St. Michaels? biggest shopping day of the year! Great Shops open until MIDNIGHT! Great sales for that night only! Wine & snacks provided by most shops! Sing with Carolers! Drawings for 6 or more gift baskets valued at least $1,500 each! Extraordinary drawing to WIN $1,000 of St. Michaels Dollars! Contest ticket distributions begins mid-October on every purchase at participating retailers! You will receive double tickets from Restaurants & B&B’s on Friday Nov 30th and Sat, Dec 1st.

Event Description
Thursday, November 29, 6:00 PM VLA in St Michaels
Cost: $8 for members, $10 for non-members
To register, contact Helen van Fleet at 410-745-4941.
Join us for an evening of discussion with some of the women who make the maritime world tick. Headed up by Nancy Taylor Robson, author of Woman in the Wheelhouse, the talk will explore her experiences living and working onboard tugs as the wife of a tugboat captain and a licensed mate. The conversation will also include the voices of other salty females from all kinds of work, both educational and industrial, within the traditionally male field.

Event Description
Friday, November 16, 6pm in Van Lennep Auditorium in St Michaels
$8 for members, $10 for non-members
To register, contact Helen Van Fleet at 410-745-4941
The Ward family of Deltaville, Virginia, operates one of the last “mom and pop” tugboat companies in the Chesapeake Bay. Join us for an evening of conversation as several generations of the Ward family share stories of transporting crabs, oysters, produce, grain, and other goods by wooden buy boat, tug, and barge throughout the tributaries of the Bay.

Waterfowl Festival Inc., a partner of Waterfowl Chesapeake Inc., is dedicated to wildlife conservation, the promotion of wildlife art, and the celebration of life on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The 42nd Festival will be held November 9-11, 2012 in historic Easton, Md. For more information, to volunteer, or donate, visit www.waterfowlfestival.org or call 410-822-4567.